Considering that the MTV awards aren't exactly the Oscars in terms of secrecy about the winners, the fact that they're really interested in getting Cash there tells me he's taking home Video of the Year. As much as I dislike MTV I can't imagine them working to get a frail old widower to come up to NYC just to watch Justin Timberlake get a moonman.

Originally posted by spf2119Considering that the MTV awards aren't exactly the Oscars in terms of secrecy about the winners, the fact that they're really interested in getting Cash there tells me he's taking home Video of the Year. As much as I dislike MTV I can't imagine them working to get a frail old widower to come up to NYC just to watch Justin Timberlake get a moonman.

I can't imagine that frail old widower taking home video of the year, when 99 percent of MTV's viewers don't know who the hell Johnny Cash is. It would be a bombshell however, could you imagine the visage of shock displayed by the teenybopper's if some old gray dude strolls down the stage to take VOY; or the hush that would go up over that crowd when they actually see a video with depth beat out 20 videos with 20 half naked chicks dancing on and around a caddy. Now even, I, would tune in for that. But I know, this is just a way to spark interest for the non traditional viewers.

Yo, my guess is yo that they force him to do a cameo as a backup yo vocalist to Her Majesity yo Missy Elliot Yo.

Originally posted by NagI can't imagine that frail old widower taking home video of the year, when 99 percent of MTV's viewers don't know who the hell Johnny Cash is.

99 percent huh? Hmm. Well bear in mind the VMAs don't cater to the typical MTV audience that you perceive to be 99 percent ignorant as to the existence of Johnny Cash. Aside from that, take into account that a) Cash has a lot of fans at the network and b) "Hurt" is really an astoundingly great video.

I also get the feeling that this is the network's big chance to give itself another Brave Choice Award, like they did when they gave the Video of the Year to Neil Young's "This Note's for You" (which beat out Madonna, Michael Jackson, Fine Young Cannibals and uh ... Steve Winwood).

could you imagine the visage of shock displayed by the teenybopper's if some old gray dude strolls down the stage to take VOY; or the hush that would go up over that crowd when they actually see a video with depth beat out 20 videos with 20 half naked chicks dancing on and around a caddy.

I'll allow that a lot of Justin fans sitting at home would be ticked off, but I'm sure the audience at Radio City would be overjoyed to see Cash take the big one home. That video made Trent Reznor and Zack de la Rocha cry for Pete's sake. (Of course neither one of them is particularly relevant to MTV's core audience anymore, but ... )

Originally posted by NagI can't imagine that frail old widower taking home video of the year, when 99 percent of MTV's viewers don't know who the hell Johnny Cash is.

99 percent huh? Hmm. Well bear in mind the VMAs don't cater to the typical MTV audience that you perceive to be 99 percent ignorant as to the existence of Johnny Cash. Aside from that, take into account that a) Cash has a lot of fans at the network and b) "Hurt" is really an astoundingly great video.

Oh...yeah...you worked for them.

Still though, when you say they don't cater to the traditional demographics I would have to disagree. It not like Toby Keith, Celine Dion, or a Bollywood act is or was ever up for a plethora of awards. Typically the videos showcased are the videos that were in heavy rotation throughout the year, which makes sense. A more well rounded show than the norm, yeah, that I can't dispute. And I know it draws a wider age range of fans then say a TRL, as the ratings will show. But it still caters to the 'boppers and always will.

So why upset the core audience by letting Johnny Cash steal the show? By letting him maybe do the song and maybe getting a lifetime achievement award; your appeasing the "Gen X'ers" who like Hurt, your appeasing the "baby boomers" who dig Cash, your appeasing the hardcore music fans that find both awesome; Most of those people won't be devistaed or think Johnny Cash is old news if he don't win. But, by letting him steal the show, you are potentially turning away the core. This isn't exactly my point of view, but hey a wise man once called a similar ceremony a Meat Parade, and that these are.

I don't like the song, and especially do not care for the video, just because I never like to see my idols acknowledge their age, especially in such a pitiful fashion. I would prefer that he performed Folsom Prison Blues or Ring of Fire, flip the camera the bird and then punch someone in the face. *That* would steal the show, indeed.

For a detailed look at the history of the MTV Video Awards, Click Here (rockonthenet.com).

This website is fascinating. Looking back at the past winners, it makes me feel all warm and nostalgic to think that actual musicians with talent and creative videos actually used to win these awards. I think the last really great years of the MTVVAs were 1996 (when the Pumpkins cleaned up and the show was wall-to-wall with great music and good humour) and 1997 (Rock was hilarious, U2 rocked and Puffy did the only worthwhile thing he's ever been involved with in the Faith Evans/Sting performance). It was okay in 1998 and 1999, when the winners of the major awards were Lauryn Hill, TLC and Will Smith (blah, but that video was actually pretty good), but then in 2000 we had Eminem, Aaliyah and Blink 182. Yikes.

With special attention to the Best Director category, since I think they're the ones that are really behind a video's success, Mark Romanek is WAY overdue to get his first win this year for 'Hurt.' Didn't he win a lifetime achievement award a few years back? Seems odd that he's never won in regular competition. Also, I had no idea that David Fincher used to direct music videos, let alone some of Madonna's best.

Originally posted by NagStill though, when you say they don't cater to the traditional demographics I would have to disagree. It not like Toby Keith, Celine Dion, or a Bollywood act is or was ever up for a plethora of awards.

This is true!!! But it's also not like Toby Keith or Celine Dion videos are up to par. I can't say I've ever seen a video by a Bollywood act, so who knows, maybe they're better than Aphex Twin's and I have no idea.

Typically the videos showcased are the videos that were in heavy rotation throughout the year, which makes sense.

This is where someone is supposed to make the "You mean MTV still shows videos?!" joke

But it still caters to the 'boppers and always will. So why upset the core audience by letting Johnny Cash steal the show?

As I said before, it's the Brave Choice Award concept. The network would get a chance to not only say "Hey kids, why not put away the Evanescence for a second and check out some real music," while simultaneously patting itself on the back for being So Brave as to give Cash the spotlight at its annual Big Event ... which is also its annual Big Advertisement for itself and therefore would translate into Big Press about how MTV is So Cool for acknowledging that there's more to music than hip-hop and teen pop. It also soothes the consciences of a lot of people who feel they have sold their souls to elevate the Britneys of the business.

I don't think it's possible for MTV to "turn away" its core audience. Where else could they be able to find fine programming such as The Wade Robson Project and Nick and Jessica: Newlyweds?

Originally posted by Big BadMark Romanek is WAY overdue to get his first win this year for 'Hurt.' Didn't he win a lifetime achievement award a few years back?

He did get the Video Vanguard in 1997. (Duran Duran has never received a Video Vanguard. Don't get me started.) "Hurt" is one of his better videos because it feels like it's coming from an original and heartfelt place. He's well known for liberally "paying homage" (a.k.a. "ripping off") other artists and images in his work so I've never been a huge fan of his.

[Romanek] pulls his inspiration from a vast reference library of books on photography, painting, and graphic design. "I'll be listening to the track [of the musician whose video he is going to direct] and flipping through books, and for some reason a Francis Bacon painting will make the hair stand up on the back of my head -- that's when I know it's the right image." -- from the Ithaca College Quarterly

Romanek also directed Fiona Apple's classic video for "Criminal" back in 1997.

{SPOILER Tag According to the Daily News, things don'tlook good for this VMA's. Britney Spears is slated to do a tribute to Madonna, doing a reeanactment of Madonna's "Like A Virgin" from the first VMA's. Following that, Christina Aguilera is going to do the same thing. Then Madonna and Missy Elliott are going to do a duet of Madonna's latest song "Hollywood." This sounds almost as bad as the crappy crossdressers tribute to Madonna in 1999' VMA's. )

Originally posted by tomvejadaRomanek also directed Fiona Apple's classic video for "Criminal" back in 1997.

{SPOILER Tag According to the Daily News, things don'tlook good for this VMA's. Britney Spears is slated to do a tribute to Madonna, doing a reeanactment of Madonna's "Like A Virgin" from the first VMA's. Following that, Christina Aguilera is going to do the same thing. Then Madonna and Missy Elliott are going to do a duet of Madonna's latest song "Hollywood." This sounds almost as bad as the crappy crossdressers tribute to Madonna in 1999' VMA's. )

According to the Daily News, things don'tlook good for this VMA's. Britney Spears is slated to do a tribute to Madonna, doing a reeanactment of Madonna's "Like A Virgin" from the first VMA's. Following that, Christina Aguilera is going to do the same thing. Then Madonna and Missy Elliott are going to do a duet of Madonna's latest song "Hollywood."

*ponders for a while* Let's see....MTV has Britney and Christina in the same set piece, with Missy and Madonna (gee, could they somehow get Fred Durst or Good Charlotte to complete the big ball of flaming suckitude)...PBS is debuting the Tori Amos Soundstage performance tonight. This is the definition of a no-brainer I think. I will watch the opening though, since as mentioned earlier I do have a weird "Cash opening doing "Hurt" either solo or possibly with Reznor" vibe on this. I'm sure it'll something far less cool in the end though.